Intellectual merit. Empathy is the glue of social relationships. It involves imagining others? perspectives and actually feeling things from others? points of view, rather than from one?s own point of view. Because of its relevance to ethical and moral behavior, empathy is a character trait. Some research states that empathy is a trait (people differ from each other in their levels of empathy), some states that the most important determinant of empathic behavior is the immediate situation, and some treats empathy as a skill to be learned (individuals can increase their empathy for others by learning specific and through practice). There is much debate about how to encourage empathic behavior, but little research on how empathy functions under situations of depletion and constraint, or how skills simple interventions can increase empathy in those who have little energy for it. To our knowledge, no studies have examined whether the capacity to empathize with others can be depleted, nor has research situated empathy within a broader theoretical framework that can more strongly predict how and when empathy predicts prosocial behavior.
Objectives. We will examine whether empathy functions like a muscle. We expect that people start out with different levels of empathy, similar to how different people have different capacities for muscle strength. We also expect that empathy is a character trait that can be strengthened, similar to how muscles can be strengthened through practice. We propose a testable model that accounts both for the consistent relationship between empathy and prosocial behaviors, and also the inconsistency in empathy?s ability to predict these same behaviors.
Methods. We will conduct 3 experimental studies to test these hypotheses, comparing people based on their existing levels of empathy. In Study 1 we will compare people?s levels of empathy and determine the extent to which an empathic act depletes their energy, as well as whether a depletion in energy is associated with less helping behavior. In Study 2 we will examine the effect of providing an energy boost (via glucose) on the helping behavior of those with a variety of levels of empathy. In Study 3 we will examine the effect of empathy-building exercises on increasing the empathic ?strength? (i.e. resilience to depletion) of people with a variety of levels of empathy. These empathy-building exercises will be sent to participants in text messages so that they can strengthen their empathy skills over the course of 2 weeks, in the context of their regular lives.
Broader scientific impact. These studies have broader implications for learning about how empathy functions and how it develops. Empathy is vital to human social interaction, and these studies can inform whether and how we can encourage empathy in our children and in our neighbors, in business and in government, in medicine and in education. Empathy extends its reach into most aspects of our lives, and increasing our understanding of how empathy functions can create a far-reaching ripple effect of understanding, inquiry, and progress, both scientifically and socially.